Animal Farm is a fable set on Manor Farm, a typical English farm. George Orwell uses a third-person perspective, and reports events without commenting on them directly. The narrator describes things as the animals see them.
Old Major calls a meeting of all the animals in the big barn. He announces that he could die anytime soon and relates to them the concepts and rules to abide by in Animalism. He explains why man is the greatest enemy of all animals, therefore the animals must take charge of their destiny by overthrowing Man by Rebelling. He relates his dream of rebellion.
Old Major soon dies and the other animals prepare for the Rebellion under the pig’s leadership. One night, Mr. Jones passes out drunk, creating the perfect opportunity for the animals to rebel. They are so hungry that they break into the store-shed. When Jones and his men try to whip them, the animals run them off the farm. Snowball changes the name of the farm to “Animal Farm” and comes up with Seven Commandments, which are to form the basis of Animalism. They are:
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animals shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.
Every Sunday, Snowball and Napoleon lead a meeting of all the animals in the big barn. The pigs are the most intelligent animals, so they think up resolutions for the other animals to debate. Soon after, the pigs set up a study-center for themselves in the harness-room. Snowball comes up with various campaigns for social and economic improvement. Napoleon opposes whatever Snowball does. Because most of the animals lack the intelligence to memorize the Seven Commandments, Snowball reduces them to the single maxim, “Four legs good, two legs bad.” The sheep take to chanting this at meetings.
No comments:
Post a Comment